Dear Friends,
I am writing this after rehearsing with the boy choristers for their first solo concert in two years, Christmas on Fifth Avenue. I do think that the boys have sung remarkably well these past few weeks; they have had to learn an incredible amount of new repertoire, including Handel’s Messiah for the majority of them. With the pandemic showing no sign of easing, the concerts have been a great success and brought many people to our Church and given us the chance to showcase our cherished Choir School.
On Tuesday, December 21, our newly-formed children’s choir The Noble Singers will lead the service for the blessing of the Christmas Crèche. This choir, for boys and girls, has been practicing over the past few weeks. Those of us who were present at the 9am Sunday Eucharist over the past few weeks have enjoyed some offerings from the choir as it prepares to lead its first service. Please come and support this service on December 21 at 5:30pm. The Sunday School have prepared a traditional nativity tableau and Fr. Schultz will read a beautiful story. This service will be especially suitable for families and younger children and we encourage children (and parents if they wish!) to come dressed in a nativity costume as one of the characters of the Christmas Story.
Several parishioners have expressed concern at traveling late at night after the midnight mass of Christmas because of the pandemic. Here are the liturgical arrangements which the clergy hope will allow as many people as possible to receive their Christmas Communion:
December 24, Christmas Eve
Mass will be celebrated at 12 p.m. as usual and then, after the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at (approximately) 5:30 p.m. there will be the Vigil Mass of Christmas. Midnight Mass will be a little earlier this year at 10:30 p.m.
December 25, Christmas Day
There will be a Said Mass at the High Altar at 9am, and then the Choir will sing at 11am.
December 26, The First Sunday after Christmas
There will be a Sung Mass at the High Altar at 9am and the Gentlemen of the Choir will sing at 11am.
The clergy will also be visiting some of our housebound parishioners. If you cannot get to church and would like a visit from a priest over the Christmas period, please contact Fr. Schultz.
Finally, congratulations to our Rector Emeritus, Father Andrew Mead, who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the sacred Priesthood on December 18th. What a momentous anniversary! We send our warmest best wishes and many prayers to Father Mead and Nancy as they gather with their family to celebrate; please pray for him this weekend.
I look forward to seeing many of you as we celebrate Christmas together; may the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph, the holiness of Mary, and the peace of the Christ-child be yours this Christmastide.
Affectionately,
Your Pastor and Priest,
Carl
All of our Advent and Christmas Services may be found in one convenient location. Visit the website for complete information and please reach out if you have any questions.
